Rational Collection

Cycling Outfit of 1890S
A young woman wearing the daring new rational cycling outfit akin to bloomers

Amelia Bloomer (1818-1894) American feminist and champion of dress reform, wearing her new dress for women
530649 Amelia Bloomer (1818-1894) American feminist and champion of dress reform, wearing her new dress for women. This was the original from which Rational cycling dress for women grew

Rational Gadgets For Your Coupons by William Heath Robinson
Customers are put on scales to determine how much butter they are entitled to, the heavier the person is, the more butter they are given. Date: 1940

Marriage De Raison (colour litho)
2815989 Marriage De Raison (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Marriage De Raison. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

A Conversing Parrot (litho)
6002542 A Conversing Parrot (litho) by Billinghurst, Percy James (1871-1933); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Conversing Parrot)

The Contrast or Things as they Are, pub. 1796 (hand coloured engraving)
2966810 The Contrast or Things as they Are, pub. 1796 (hand coloured engraving) by Gillray, James (1757-1815); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; English, out of copyright

Proposed rational dress for servants, 1912
Suggested rational dress (trousers) suitable for servants. Date: 1912

Old England, New France, The Contrast, published by Hannah Humphrey
NCO253712 Old England, New France, The Contrast, published by Hannah Humphrey, 1796 (coloured engraving) by Gillray, James (1757-1815); Courtesy of the Warden and Scholars of New College

Raison - a French couple failing to communicate (colour photo)
2804529 Raison - a French couple failing to communicate (colour photo) by French Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Raison - a French couple failing to communicate)

Rational dress (engraving)
5223897 Rational dress (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Rational dress. Illustration for The Family Doctor and Peoples Medical Adviser)

Rational dress for girls (engraving)
5223951 Rational dress for girls (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Rational dress for girls)

REFUSE TREATMENT PLANT
French treatment plant for the rational disposal of urban waste : different materials are sorted and disposed of according to their nature Date: 1898

Do we need the Actress?. Mr Edgar Atchison-Ely in Rational Dress. Date: 1904
" Do we need the Actress?". Mr Edgar Atchison-Ely in Rational Dress. Date: 1904

Hippocrates, Ancient Greek physician
Hippocrates (c.460-c.370 BC), Ancient Greek physician and philosopher. Hippocrates, who is considered the father of medicine, founded a medical school on the Aegean island of Kos

Rene Descartes, caricature
Rene Descartes. Caricature of the French philosopher and mathematician Rene Descartes (1596-1650). While travelling in Europe as a young man

WW1 poster, Don t... 1. Don t use a motor car or motor cycle for pleasure purposes. 2. Don t buy new clothes needlessly. Don t be ashamed of wearing old clothes in wartime. 3

Luise Adelgund Gottsched
LUISE ADELGUNDE VIKTORIA GOTTSCHED (nee Kulmus) wife of Johann Christoph G. professor of Rational and Transcendental Philosophy. Date: circa 1760

Johann Gottsched - 3
JOHANN CHRISTOPH GOTTSCHED German writer, professor of Rational and Transcendental Philosophy (those Germans !). Date: 1700 - 1766

Johann Gottsched - 1
JOHANN CHRISTOPH GOTTSCHED German writer, professor of Rational and Transcendental Philosophy (those Germans !). Date: 1700 - 1766

Johann Gottsched - 2
JOHANN CHRISTOPH GOTTSCHED German writer, professor of Rational and Transcendental Philosophy (those Germans !). Date: 1700 - 1766

Suffragette Chicken as New Woman. A chicken dressed as a New Woman in tweed suit, hat, spats, carrying a walking stick and smoking

Rational Dress for Ladies, Notes at the Exhibition of Hygienic Costume

Quackery Unmasked, or Empiricism Displayed: Dedicated to Doctor Chiron, riding Master to Achilles
XJF867813 Quackery Unmasked, or Empiricism Displayed: Dedicated to Doctor Chiron, riding Master to Achilles, and Aesculapius, physician extraordinary to the Dead, 1748 (engraving) by English School

Cycling: Lady in Rational cycling dress. Cover of The Sketch Cycling Supplement London 14 November 1897 celebrating 21 years of the Stanley Cycling Club

Cycling: Lady wearing Rational cycling dress, riding a safety bicycle with handbrake. Advertisement for Ellimans Embrocation London 1895

Cycling: Lady in Rational cycling dress of knickerbockers and gaiters, giving small daughter a ride on the saddle. French illustration c1890

A rational law, or - Tammany. Owner of wine and beer store putting up sign, As long as it is the law it shall be enforced, Theo

Aesthetic maiden
A fancy dress costume idea from 1884 - an aesthetic maiden. The costume comprises a loose flowing half skirt and a half high classical bodice with ribbon belt around the waist

Gladys Cooper trouser skirted
British actress, Gladys Cooper (1888 - 1971), pictured modelling a trouser skirt, divided skirt or culottes for tennis. The look was also pioneered by Spanish tennis player Lili de Alvarez in 1931

In Summer Mood
Gorgeous illustration depicting a woman with long auburn hair wearing rational dress reminiscent of a medieval flowing gown. She walks through a garden filled with foxgloves in bloom

Revolution Calendar
The old calendar is discarded in favour of a new one with more rational months names - Rainy, Windy etc. This is Floreal, (floral) lasting from mid- April to mid-May

Cycling Costume 1895
A young woman wearing a bicycle suit the new rational cycling oufit with jacket and knee-length bloomers, is mocked by her friend

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"Embracing Rationality: Unveiling the Evolution of Fashion and Gadgets" Step back in time to the 1890s, where cycling outfits took on a rational approach. These practical ensembles allowed riders to navigate the streets with ease while maintaining a sense of style. Speaking of rationality, William Heath Robinson's ingenious creations showcased "Rational Gadgets For Your Coupons. " His imaginative contraptions blended functionality and whimsy, proving that even everyday tasks could be approached with logic and creativity. Intriguingly, Robinson's work was not limited to gadgets alone. He also delved into capturing human interactions through art. From "Marriage De Raison, " depicting a couple struggling to communicate effectively, to "A Conversing Parrot, " showcasing the power of language in bridging gaps between species - his lithographs offered insightful glimpses into our quest for rational connections. Venturing further back in time, we stumble upon an engraving titled "The Contrast or Things as they Are" from 1796. This hand-colored masterpiece highlighted societal disparities and urged viewers towards a more rational understanding of their surroundings. Fast forward to 1912 when proposed rational dress for servants emerged as an innovative concept. This progressive idea aimed at providing comfort and practicality without compromising elegance or professionalism. Exploring cultural contrasts became another avenue for artists like Hannah Humphrey who published works such as "Old England, New France. " Through her lens, she shed light on how different societies embraced reason differently while emphasizing the importance of finding common ground amidst diversity. Adding yet another layer to this narrative is "Raison, " a captivating photograph capturing a French couple failing to communicate effectively. It serves as a reminder that even within intimate relationships, rationality plays a crucial role in fostering understanding and harmony. Lastly, we encounter the reform corset from around 1900 - an embodiment of embracing reason over tradition.